Vance Havner
Born
Vance Havner

(1901-10-17)October 17, 1901
North Carolina, United States
DiedAugust 12, 1986(1986-08-12) (aged 84)
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)Pastor, revivalist, author
Years active1912–1986
Known forChristian ministry, authorship
Notable workThough I Walk Through the Valley

Vance Havner (October 17, 1901 – August 12, 1986) was an American Southern Baptist minister, revivalist, and author, known for his deep commitment to the Bible and poignant preaching style.

Early Life and Education

edit

Born in North Carolina, Havner was profoundly influenced by his religious upbringing and began preaching at a young age. He was particularly drawn to the sermons and writings of Charles Spurgeon. Although he attended institutions such as Catawba College, Wake Forest University, and Moody Bible Institute, he was largely self-taught.

Ministry

edit
 
Vance Havner birthplace in 2021.

Havner's ministry spanned seven decades, starting with outdoor preaching at the age of 14. He was known for his itinerant preaching and his disdain for the social gospel, advocating instead for repentance and faith.

Legacy

edit

Havner's writings and sermons have been influential in Christian circles, with his messages focused on the necessity of personal and corporate revival within the church. He is remembered for his poignant quotes on the Christian life and service.

Quotes

edit

Throughout the later part of his ministry, Havner was called by many, including Billy Graham, the most quoted preacher in America. He was widely known in his day for short, pithy sayings that summarized a point of doctrine or commentary. "The Vance Havner Quotebook" (ISBN: 0801042992) was compiled by Dennis J. Hester and was published in 1986. A quote attributed to Havner made it into the United States Congressional Record of January 30, 1992, when used by Richard C. Halverson in his prayer during the opening of the Senate session.[1]

Selected Quotes

edit

Selected Bibliography

edit
  • Though I Walk Through the Valley (1974)[2]

References

edit
  1. ^ "CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE" (PDF). United States Government Publishing Office. March 24, 1992. p. 1. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  2. ^ Vance Havner (1974). Though I Walk Through the Valley. Revell.
edit